SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

                                                           

Although it doesn’t feel like it today here in my neck of the woods (the deep South), spring has sprung!  This has been a really crazy March….cold one day, very warm the next.  And the wind…oh my!  I don’t think I’ve ever seen as much wind as we’ve seen this year.  I’ve picked up tons of sticks & pinecones that continually fall in our yard.

But now it’s time for my spring planting😊  Every year I say I’m not going to plant as many flowers as last year, but somehow I don’t hold myself to that!  Our yard is really not very good for growing flowers and many plants, so I tend to go with container gardening.  I haven’t decided what I’m going to plant yet, but my sweet “gardener” husband and I worked like Trojans in our yard this weekend….weeding, trimming, & completely doing away with a huge gardenia bush that had seen its prime. I’m a person who likes lots of “nooks & crannies” in a yard and so we are trying to come up with some new ideas this year.  I’ve been looking on Pinterest and other sites and thought I’d share some of my favorite finds so far. 

One thing I definitely want this year is a GARDEN SIGN for my little memory garden.  I'd love to take a walk in this person's Crooked Fence Garden.

                                                                  

              http://www.fleamarketgardening.org/2016/02/23/50-flea-market-garden-signs-a-gallery/ 

                                                           

I love a “meandering” (don’t you just love that word!) path.  We have a small one in one area but we are working on another little “nook & cranny” and I definitely want a stone path of some sort.

                                                              

         http://blog.styleestate.com/style-estate-blog/2017/4/1/56-enchanting-garden-paths 

I just love incorporating “the unexpected” into a garden or yard.  This chair is so quaint and inviting.  I have my own version that I will be replanting soon...I'll post a picture later.

                                                           

                                   Photograph by Barbara Vengalli

                http://www.fleamarketgardening.org/2012/10/28/how-to-design-and-paint-a-garden-sign/      

Not every garden would have a purple bench!  I love this one, although I’d more than likely go with white.

                                                                 

                                                   link not available

And look at this old wicker chair!  Most people would just have thrown it out, but look what a beauty a few flowers turned it into.

                                                               

                https://www.shelterness.com/5-ideas-to-transform-old-chairs-into-beautiful-mini- gardens/pictures/16623/        

I would love to have some sort of garden gate but just not sure where we would put one in our yard.  This door is an unusual and fun alternative.

                                                             

                        https://www.thegardenglove.com/diy-up-cycled-garden-gates/   

I love the idea of small painted stones for the garden.  These herb markers could be placed among plants in an herb garden, but you could also use words like LOVE, JOY, PEACE, etc.  That might be a great project for my creative granddaughter who loves to paint.

                                                                  

                      http://augustwren.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/herb-markers.html  

Since writing this post I have visited a local nursery and also made some progress with my spring yard work.  I’ll be back in a couple of days or so to show you the results.  What will you plant in your garden this year?

HAPPY HYGEE

I want to move to Denmark!  Know why??  Because it is considered one of the two happiest countries in the world😊 (The other is Norway.)  Want to know what makes all those Danish people so happy?  Well, at least one of the main things is that they practice HYGGE (pronounced as I’m told as “hoo-ga”).  I have recently read a few articles explaining HYGGE, and I must say I am very intrigued.  British journalist Helen Russell wrote about HYGGE in her 2015 book The Year of Living Danishly.  She defines HYGEE as “taking pleasure in the presence of gentle, soothing things.”  I like the sound of that!  In a publication put out by an insurance company HYGEE was referred to as The Cozy Craze.  Cozy….one of my favorite words!  And one of my favorite ways to spend my time. 

So how does a person practice HYGGE?  Well, here are a few examples:

*grab a blanket, a good book, & a cup of hot chocolate and just chill out😊

                                                                     

                                                           

*have an intimate dinner for two….or enjoy a night out with friends

*go for a leisurely stroll in the woods or the park 

*turn out the lights, light some candles, & cozy up in front of the fireplace

(I read somewhere that Denmark burns more candles per capita than any other country!)

*pack some wine and cheese and go on a picnic….alone or with someone special

                                                                 

 

                                                    

*sit in the porch swing with your child or grandchild and just talk (no cell phones allowed!)

*have a Pajama Day and binge on old movies

*soak awhile in a hot bubble bath with your favorite music playing in the background                                       

                                                                   

 

                     

HYGGE can be thought of as anything that brings you “coziness” and “calm” whether with family, friends, or just yourself.  Doesn’t that sound positively wonderful?  With all the stress many/most of us face these days, I think we should all follow the example of the Danes and HYGGE as much as possible!

I’m off to pour a glass of wine, grab some oldie but goldies, and soak awhile in a nice hot bubble bath!  How about you???  What is your HYGGE?

                                                                  

 

   

I'M BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow!  It's hard to believe that I haven't written my blog for over 3 years!  Where has the time gone?  I really enjoyed writing here....enjoyed it quite a lot....but life just got in the way, plus I think I just got burned out and discouraged.  BUT...now I think I'm going to try again. 

My blog never did really catch on with others in the blogging world, and that bothered me at one time.  However, I've decided I am going to just write this for myself to journal and document life-happenings around here and to write about things that interest me, including decorating & gardening ideas, crafts, recipes, and anything else that catches my fancy.  Of course, there will be many posts about the grandkids and small-town life.  AND...if any readers want to stop in and see what I have to say, then that will just be icing on the cake. 

                                                             

So…feel free to come along with me in this old/new adventure and maybe you'll find some food for thought.

My Bucket List for 2018

I’ve always been a maker of LISTS; it brings joy to my heart when I can check off things & see what all I have accomplished.  Plus it helps me NOT TO FORGET to do things I need to do😊  So here is a list of goals I really hope to accomplish this year:

1.     Write my blog…no particular schedule; just when I want to😊

2.     Start (and stick to) a fauxbonichi journal….if you want to know what that is go here….www. http://fauxbonichiwa.blogspot.com/p/intro-to-hobonichi.html .  There is even a wonderful facebook page you can join here www.facebook.com/groups/FauxbonichiJournalers/ .

3.    Plan out weekly menus and (definitely) try some new recipes!  Hubby has now

retired, will be home more often, & guess that means more cooking for me.

                                                                

4.  Complete some long overdue home & DIY projects…I’ll try to remember to take pictures & share!

5.  Maybe??? try Junk Journaling &/or Pocket Letters again.  (I like being creative.)

     6.  Find more joy, more gratitude, more peace, and more fun!  Life is too short😊

And….for visiting me on CHERI’S CHATTER today how about a gift of two of our favorite dishes for these last few days of cooler spring weather.     So glad you dropped by and hope will come again as often as you can.  Love & hugs!

DUMP  SOUP

Ingredients:

   1-1 ½ lbs. ground beef or venison (we are hunters!) (browned & drained)

   2 cans cream style corn

   1 can condensed tomato soup (undiluted)

   1 can Veg-All (undrained)

   1 can butterbeans (undrained) (I keep leftovers of our fresh beans in the freezer)

   1 can okra (undrained)

   1 or 2 cans petite diced tomatoes (undrained)

   about ¼ cup dry white rice (just to add some body & thickness to the soup)

   a little bit of water if soup gets too thick

   salt & pepper to taste

Brown the meat in large Dutch oven or pan.  Drain.  Then just “dump” everything else in!  Yep, just that easy😊  Cook on simmer about 1 1/2-2 hrs. (make sure rice is cooked).    It’s delicious and will warm up your bones on cold nights.  (You can actually dump in anything of your choice!)

MY  MAMA’S  CHEESE  MUFFINS

*Goes great with any Southern meal or your favorite bowl of hot soup!

*Mix together:

          1 cup self-rising flour                             3/4 grated cheddar cheese (I use mild)

          3/4 cup corn meal                                   1/4 cup sugar

          1/2 cup vegetable oil                              1 egg

          1 cup milk

*Bake in greased muffin tins at 425 degrees for about 15-20 minutes.

They melt in your mouth!

And here is my granddaughter cooking the soup for her Papa’s dinner!  (She no longer wears glasses so probably won’t want me sharing this picture😊)  She is wearing her great-great grandmother’s handmade apron.  Love that she loves to cook with me!   You can read more about this day here:

http://cherischatter.blogspot.com/2015/01/soup-memories.html

                                                                              

Bird  Watching 

If I were a bird, I'd sing a song

And fly about the whole day long.

And when the night came,

Go to rest, up in my cozy little nest.

---nursery  rhyme

I just looked out our back windows on this rainy, cold winter morning and smiled when I saw 5 male cardinals enjoying a snack of sunflower seeds.  My hsband loves to feed the birds and watch as they devour the seeds from our three feeders.  There are other types of birds there too, but the bright red feathers of the cardinals just stand out and lend a bright spot to an otherwise dreary day!

Birds certainly add a lot of beauty to our world.  Look at the colors of these sweet creatures:

And what about these gorgeous feathers?

Definitely beauty personified.

I've been noticing birds in a lot of decor and craft items lately.  Is there a trend I've been missing out on?  I may have to set up a new Pinterest board:  Birds for Other Things Besides Watching & Feeding!

Wouldn't this be lovely on a spring mantle or as a centerpiece for an Easter dinner?

http://www.creationsbykara.com/2013/03/spring-decorating-20-ideas-for-bird-nest-decor.html/

Look what this crafty blogger made from Dollar Tree birds!

http://cinnaberry-suite.blogspot.com/2010/03/springin-up.html



And this blue chest is just too, too sweet...wish I could paint like that!

www.missmustardseed.com

I love this...and it could be easily made.

www.mudpiestudio.com

But these???  These may be taking it a little too far!

www.goodideasforyou.com  (Really?? a good idea??)

Have you guessed what it is???  (smoke detector)

Pinterest has many, many cute crafts that involve birds, owls, and chickens.  These look easy enough to make.

bookmarks/flickr image

pinterest board

Who wouldn't love some cute blue bird cookies? 

My sister-in-law and niece could certainly whip these out in a skinny minute!  They have their own cookie business and they are absolutely amazing!  Check out their etsy shop for all your cookie needs for baby showers, birthday parties, wedding favors, and anything else that will meet your cookie needs.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TwoCrazyCookies  



Birds certainly add beauty to our world through their bright colors and beautiful songs.  God knew we needed some little bright spots in a world that can sometimes seem harsh and cold...plus he knew we needed reminders like this:



I heard a bird sing

in the dark of December

A magical thing

and sweet to remember;

"We are nearer to spring

Than we were in September,"

I heard a little bird sing

In the dark of December

--Oliver Herford

Even on a dreary rainy day like today, a little bird can bring out the sunshine.

Hang in there...because a little bird told me it would be Spring soon!



Button, Button...whose got the button ?

picture via google search

Do  you remember that game...or does that give away my age?  I remember playing this when I was in first grade.  Our teacher would sit us in a circle, and we would pass a button around our back while chanting.  The teacher would call STOP and we would have to figure out who had the button!  Well...it was fun at the time!

luualla.com

I have always loved buttons!  I think my fascination began due to many hours of playing with my grandmother's button tin.  It was full of beautiful buttons of all different colors, sizes, & shapes.  I would stack them, compare them, make patterns with them, even make up games with them.  I wonder if children still play with buttons today?  Probably not!

mypolkadotteapot.com via google search

I recently read a little about the history of buttons.  The earliest known button is supposedly about 5000 years old.  They actually began more as an adornment worn like jewelry than for actual utility.  After the Button Makers Guild was formed in 1250 AD, there were actually laws prohibiting poor people from owning buttons made of certain materials (which they couldn't afford anyway).  Snobby rich people!  In the 1300's people went so crazy over buttons that some garments were totally covered in buttons...each with its own buttonholes!  Can you imagine getting dressed in the mornings?

Lots of people out there evidently collect buttons...and some pay big bucks for even a single button.  (I doubt I'll get that addicted.)  You can Google and find all sorts of information if you are interested, including www.iwantbuttons.com. 

I was very fortunate awhile back to be given a wonderful collection of buttons that had been collected by possibly both of my husband's grandmothers and my mother-in-law. 

Then my mother gave me a lot too....and these were even contained in a very old tin that I remember her keeping them in!  I love my buttons!

Some of my collection are very interesting and I'm sure very old.  I've tried to find out some info on some of them but haven't discovered anything yet.

A few years ago I even made this bracelet out of a length of elastic and various buttons I had

Wouldn't these be cute?

luualla.com

I sometimes pull out my buttons when my granddaughter is here because I hope that she too will fall in love with these beautiful pieces of metal, cloth, & plastic.  Maybe I will even teach her...

Button, Button...whose got the button ?

second twirl via pinterest.com